Slidable support for window coverings



- March 25, 1969 Filed Feb. 20, 1967 INVENTOR. Suverino SGorgone Sparrow and Sparrow ATTORNEYS.

s. s. GORGONE 3,434,685

SLIDABLE SUPPORT FOR WINDOW COVERINGS S. S. GORGONE SLIDABLE SUPPORT FOR WINDOW COVERINGS March 25, 1969' Sheet Filed Feb. 20, 1967 FIG.I4

N m VG WS 0 .m r e V 0 S y Sparrow and Sparrow ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 248-263 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A slidable support for window coverings such as curtains, drapes, Venetian blinds and the like, having relatively vertical sliding tracks adapted to be attached to window frames and to support the window covering, whereby the window covering may be lowered into easy reach or locked into proper position.

Background of the invention In order to hang window coverings such as curtains, draperies and Venetian blinds above ones reach, as well as to take the same down periodically for cleaning, it is usually required to employ a stepladder, chair or the like. However, such articles are not always safe to use, and in many cases makeshift devices are used by housewives, which are even less safe. Injurious accidents are often the result of such widespread potentially dangerous practices.

Devices to obviate these practices are known, but they require specially designed parts and more or less complicated mechanisms. In addition, the ordinary housewife is not always accustomed to the handling of these devices. This invention is directed toward presenting new and much simplified devices for improving the above mentioned household operations, and it consists in the novel parts, construction arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The device according to the invention avoids the inconvenience or necessity of one standing or climbing on chairs, ladders or the like, to reach an upper curtain rod when it is desired to clean or replace curtains or drapes as the upper curtain rod is located at a convenient height when lowered in the track.

Summary Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereafter and in part will be obvious herefrorn or may be learned by practicing the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

It is the object of the present invention to provide means for lifting and lowering curtain rods on windows while standing on the floor.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an adjustable or extensible device having relatively sliding tracks, with attachable brackets which allow curtain rods. blinds and the like to be stationary, yet movable at will.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an extensible device having relatively vertical sliding tracks which can be easily attached to the side frames of a conventional window and by which curtain rods or the like may be suspended and lowered.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an extensible device comprising relatively vertical sliding tracks which may be economically made from extensiontype curtain rods.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide means for lifting and lowering curtain rods on windows, which means are inexpensive, efiicient, practical, and very simple to operate, and which do not require special custommade parts.

Various further and more specific purposes, features and advantages will clearly appear from the detailed descrip tion given below in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification and ill-ustrate merely by way of example an embodiment of the device of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings In the following description and in the claims, parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but such names are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the 'art will permit. Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a conventional window, partly broken away, having vertically disposed extensible devices according to the invention, attached to the side frame members of a window;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the outer slidable member of the device;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the outer track member shown in FIG. 2 (on an enlarged scale) viewed in the direction of the arrows 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the inner sliding member of the device;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of the inner sliding member of the device, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 55 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of an upper curtain rod bracket, employable in the invention, attached to the upper end of the sliding inner member shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a lower curtain rod bracket, employable in the invention, attached to the lower end of the sliding inner track member shownin FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of an angular curtain rod bracket, employable in a modification, attached to the sliding inner member;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the bracket shown in FIG. 8, viewed in the direction of the arrow 9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the bracket shown in FIG. 8, viewed in the direction of the arrow Ill in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross-section of assembled outer and inner sliding members, taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a handle which may be arranged on the inner sliding member in place of a lower bracket as shown in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 13 is a side view of a single knob which may be arranged on the inner sliding member for operating the same;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a modification of the stop device of the movable inner member;

FIG. 15 is a side view of the stop device shown in FIG. 14, partly broken away;

FIG. 16 is a cross-section of the stop device, taken along the line 16-16 in FIG. 15.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring now in more detail to the drawings illustrating preferred embodiments by which the invention may be realized, but not limited thereto, there are disclosed a pair of curtain rod or similar supporting devices 13, one

being provided for each side of conventional window 11. Each device 13 comprises a set of similarly shaped elongated relatively slidable members 16 and 21, outer and inner respectively, each constituting a channelled track member for the other member, similar to that of a conventional extension type curtain rod, but not according to the present invention functioning as a curtain rod per se. Slidable members 16 and 21 may be made of any suitable material, such as steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium, or plastics. The outer track member 16 of each device 13 is vertically secured to the upper portion of a side frame 12 of window 11 by screws, nails or other suitable means (not shown). The inner member 21 slides vertically with relation to outer track member 16. Across the upper end portions of sliding member 21 may be removably suspended a conventional curtain rod 14 and at the lower end portions of sliding member 21 may be removably suspended another conventional curtain rod 15. The suspension means may be of the types hereinafter described. Curtains or other window coverings may be hung on rods 14 and 15 in usual manner for the upper and lower windows respectively.

As shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1, inner sliding members 21 can be lowered so that both upper curtain rod 14 and lower curtain rod 15 may be removed easily and conveniently. Obviously, these rods may be replaced or new ones substituted in this position of the members 21.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the lower or outer elongated part or member 16 which is fixed to window side frame 12 by screws (not shown) either on the face thereof or on the side, as shown in FIG. 8. Outer part or member 16 has two longitudinal inwardly bent flanges 17 and 18, forming a channel-like track, similar to the design of the said conventional extension-type curtain rods. Near the lower end of fixed outer member 16 is cutout 19 in the edges 17' and 18' of flanges 17 and 18. Inner sliding member 21 is slidingly or telescopically nested in fixed outer member 16.

A curtain rod or similar bracket 22 having a projection 22' is attached to the upper end portion of each inner sliding member 21 by screws, rivets or the like (not shown in detail). The curtain rod would have corresponding holes to receive projections 22' for suspending the rod on member 21. Washers 23 are placed under the heads of the screws or rivets. Washers 23 may be replaced by short bushings or similar elements. A curtain rod bracket 24 (FIG. 7) having an arcuate portion 24 may be attached to the lower end of each member 21 in the same manner as bracket 22, is attached to the upper end portion of member 21, such as by fasteners and 20', said bracket 24 having a washer or bushing 25 located under the head of fastener 20. The ends of a curtain rod for hanging lower window curtains may be received in arcuate portions 24' when suspending the rod from member 21. Washer 25 fits between or is in engagement with the longitudinal edges 17' and 18 of inwardly turned flanges 17 and 18 of outer member 16 under pressure causing a frictional engagement therewith, and cutout 19 serves as a snap-in terminal for holding inner member 21 in its upper position, such as shown in FIG. 1. Sliding track assembly 13 also may be secured to the outside edge 26 of window frame 12 (FIG. 8). In this case, angular curtain rod brackets 27 are attached to slidable member 21 (see FIGS. 8, 9 and 10). In order to limit the up and down travel of slidable member 21 in fixed member 16, a stop is provided which may comprise an element, such as screw 28, provided with a bushing 29 which is inserted through a hole 30 in member 21 and is screwed through a hole 31 in outer member 16 into frame 12. Thus inner member 21 may be moved upwardly only until washer 25 contacts bushing 29, and it may not be pulled down more than contact between washer 23 and bushing 29 will permit. Lower curtain rod bracket 24 may be replaced conveniently by either a handle 32 or by a knob 33, when no lower curtain rod 15 is required. Either handle 32 or knob 33 may be fastened by screws and washers 25 to inner sliding member 21 in a manner similar to that with respect to bracket 24 for raising and lowering inner member 21. Handle 32 or knob 33 may be provided with a washer or bushing 25 or other suitable means in engagement with the longitudinally disposed edges 17' and 18' of inwardly turned flanges 17 and 18 and cooperating with cutout 19 for holding inner member 21 in an upper position. This handle or equivalent means will be convenient if the devices according to the invention are used for hanging drapes.

A modification of the stop, such as described above, is shown in FIGS. 14, 15 and 16. A catch 37 is fastened at the inside of outer track 35. A flexible plate 43 is fastened by a rivet 41 to the outside of inner track 36. A small pin or strike 38 extends perpendicularly from the flexible plate into the interior of tracks 35, 36 in order to latch on catch 37. Finger grips 39, 40 are fastened by any suitable means such as screws or rivets 41, 42 to flexible plate 43 to facilitate the release of strike 38 from catch 37. Obviously, this latch device may be placed at such height on the window that the curtain rods may be held safely in the desired position even in the case of heavy curtains.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to certain preferred examples which give satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the principle of the invention, that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

I claim:

1. A pair of slidable supports for window covering, each of said supports comprising: an inner slidable member and an outer slidable member, each of said members constituting a channelled track member for the other of said members, means to secure said outer member in vertical position to a window frame, a first bracket adapted to support said window covering secured to said inner member and locking means to lock said inner member in a predetermined sliding position with respect to said outer member, whereby said window covering may be raised and lowered by simultaneously raising and lowering said inner members, a second bracket secured to each of said inner members for supporting a second covering, said second bracket having attaching means for afiixing the same on said inner member, said outer member having longitudinally disposed inwardly turned flanges, said second bracket having means in said attaching means in frictional engagement with said flanges, and said outer member having a cut-out formed in atleast one of said flanges for accommodating said means on said attaching means for holding said inner member in an upper position, said cutout and said means on said attaching means constituting said locking means.

2. A pair of slidable supports for window covering, each of said supports comprising: an inner slidable member and an outer slidable member, each of said members constituting a channelled track member for the other of said members, means to secure said outer member in vertical position to a window frame, a first bracket adapted to support said window covering secured to said inner member and locking means to lock said inner member in a predetermined sliding position with respect to said outer member, whereby said window covering may be raised and lowered by simultaneously raising and lowering said inner members, means secured to said inner member at its lower end portion for raising and lowering said inner member, said outer member having longitudinally disposed inwardly turned flanges, said means secured to said inner member at its lower end portion and having means in frictional engagement with said flanges, and said outer member having a cutout formed in at least one of said flanges at its lower end portion for accommodating said means in frictional engagement with said flanges for holding said inner member in an uppermost position, said cutout and said latter mentioned means constituting said locking means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 445,951 2/1891 Hine 248-244 XR 1,152,987 9/1915 Spalding 287-68 X 2,563,009 8/1951 Day et a1. 211-103 FOREIGN PATENTS 1912 Great Britain.

ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

J. FRANKLIN FOSS, Assistant Examiner. 

